Koh Tachai, a small island tucked away in the pristine waters of the Andaman Sea west of Thailand’s southern city of Phuket. Its pristine white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and coral reefs bustling with fauna earned it rave reviews from tourists—divers in particular.
And the park administration has stepped up to protect the island.
When other marine national parks open again on October 15, Koh Tachai will remain closed indefinitely.
The announcement came from Tunya Netithammakul, director general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation, Bangkok Post reported.
“We have to close it to allow the rehabilitation of the environment both on the island and in the sea without being disturbed by tourism activities before the damage is beyond repair,” Tunya said.
He also asked tourists to watch out for companies that might try to sell them trips to the island.
“In fact, Koh Tachai is preserved as a primitive zone, not a tourist site,” Prof. Thon said, referring to zones with the second highest degree of protection in Thailand’s national parks. Other parks have tourist areas marked as “Outdoor Recreational Zone.”
“If it’s not closed now, we'll lose Koh Tachai permanently,” Thon said.
